Jack Wilshere was so struck by Paul Scholes' criticisms of his development on television that he called up the veteran midfielder, whom he idolises, to discuss them.

Wilshere has revealed that, after hearing his role model say on television in March that the Arsenal man was not a better player now at 22 than he was at 17, he got in touch with Scholes, through Gary Neville, "to know what he (Scholes) thought and ask his advice".

The two midfielders had what Wilshere described as "quite a good chat".

"I wanted to get to the bottom of it," he said. "I spoke to him, he explained it a bit better and told me what he thought I should work on."

Scholes explained to Wilshere that he needed to start fulfilling his potential.

"There comes a time when you stop being a kid and I think that's what he was referring to," Wilshere said. "He was right in a certain way."

Scholes had said that Wilshere needed to make the most of his potential.

"Jack Wilshere came on the scene and looked a top young player but he has never really gone on," Scholes said. "He needs the characters like (Patrick) Vieira next to him to take him to the next level. He doesn't look any better a player now than he did when he was 17."

Meanwhile, Fulham striker Kostas Mitroglou has been included in Greece's provisional 29-man squad for the World Cup in Brazil, despite his faltering form with the Cottagers this season.

The 26-year-old was brought to Craven Cottage from Olympiacos for £11m in January, but he flattered to deceive, playing just 120 minutes without finding the net as Fulham were relegated.

However, Greece head coach Fernando Santos has still found room in his squad for Mitroglou, who will be hoping to make the final 23-man list of players which has to be submitted by June 2.

Mitroglou's Fulham team-mate Giorgos Karagounis, Greece captain and their most-capped player of all time with 132 appearances, is also included despite featuring sporadically for the west London side this season, along with Celtic striker Georgios Samaras.